Kalanchoe plant named ‘Megan’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Megan’, characterized by its medium in size, upright, uniform and moderately vigorous growth habit; medium-sized dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; medium-sized double red-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Megan’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Megan’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hinnerup, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program is to create new double-flowered Kalanchoe cultivars with attractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe, originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Hinnerup, Denmark in April, 2005, of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar KJ 2003 1487, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Juliana 2000, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Megan was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hinnerup, Denmark in November, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Hinnerup, Denmark since March, 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Megan has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Megan’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Megan’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe:

-   -   1. Medium in size, upright, uniform and moderately vigorous         growth habit.     -   2. Medium-sized dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Medium-sized double red-colored flowers.     -   5. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the female parent, the cultivar KJ 2003 1487. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of the cultivar KJ 2003 1487 primarily in petal quantity as plants of the new Kalanchoe have flowers with more petals than plants of the cultivar KJ 2003 1487.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can also be compared to plants of the male parent, the cultivar Juliana 2000. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of the cultivar Juliana 2000 in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and the cultivar Juliana 2000         differ in leaf shape as leaves of plants of the cultivar Juliana         2000 have more cordate-shaped bases.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have double flowers whereas         plants of the cultivar Juliana 2000 have single flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Cate, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hinnerup, Denmark, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of the cultivar Cate in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more compact than plants of         the cultivar Cate.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and the cultivar Cate differed in         leaf shape as leaves of plants of the cultivar Cate had more         cordate-shaped bases.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Kalanchoe had fewer petals than         flowers of plants of the cultivar Cate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Kalanchoe, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Kalanchoe.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Megan’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises close-up views of typical vegetative (top left) and generative (top right) leaves, upper (center left) and side (center right) perspective views of typical flowers and a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem (bottom) of ‘Megan’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Hinnerup, Denmark in a glass-covered greenhouse during the winter and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures were about 19° C., night temperatures were about 21° C. and light levels ranged from 10 kilolux to 50 kilolux. Unrooted cuttings were directly stuck in containers and received long day/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for about two weeks; plants then received photoinductive short day/long night conditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were about eleven weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Megan. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar KJ             2003 1487, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar             Juliana 2000, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at             temperatures of 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 19 to 21 days at             temperatures of 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 24 days             at temperatures of 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Upright, uniform and moderately vigorous growth             habit. Very freely flowering with numerous compound cymes.             Inverted triangle with rounded crown. Appropriate for 6-cm             to 13-cm containers.         -   Plant height at flowering.—About 18 cm.         -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 25 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Usually about three to five lateral             branches develop per plant. Pinching (removal of the             terminal apex) is not required but will enhance lateral             branch development. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 8 cm to 12 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 1.5 cm.         -   Aspect.—Erect.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 146A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical.         -   Length, vegetative plants.—About 8 cm to 13 cm.         -   Width, vegetative plants.—About 6 cm to 10 cm.         -   Length, generative plants.—About 5 cm to 13 cm.         -   Width, generative plants.—About 2 cm to 10 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate to sagittate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Glabrous, leathery;             succulent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:             Close to 147A; venation, close to 147A. Developing and fully             expanded foliage, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,             close to 147B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 0.2 cm to 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 5             mm to 11 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 147A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 147B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Double flowers arranged singly             in compound dichasial cymes that arise from leaf axils.             Uniform and freely flowering habit with usually about 30 to             50 flowers per inflorescence. Flowers not persistent.             Flowers not fragrant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe             initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night             conditions or during the late autumn/winter/early spring.             Flower initiation and development can also be induced under             artificial short day/long conditions (at least 14 hours of             darkness).         -   Time to flower.—Under short day/long night photoinductive             conditions, about 75 days are required. Actual time to             flower is primarily dependent upon temperature and light             intensity.         -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production             longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance             for about six weeks under interior environmental conditions.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 5 cm to 10 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4 cm to 6 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.5 cm to 2.2 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 1 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter:             About 4 mm. Color: Close to 45B.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: About 15 fused at the base. Length             (largest petals): About 1 cm. Width (largest petals): About             6 mm. Aspect: Slightly upright to eventually recurved.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening             and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 45B. When opening             and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 37A; dots, close             to 45B.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four fused at the base. Length: About             7 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute.             Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth; glabrous. Color, immature, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 146A. Color, mature, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 146A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Aspect:             Erect to about 60° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Aspect: Erect to about 90° from vertical. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About five             to ten per flower. Anther shape: Elliptic. Anther size:             About 1 mm by 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 22A. Amount of             pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 20A. Gynoecium:             Pistil number: About four per flower. Pistil length: About             3 mm. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to 145A.             Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to 145A. Ovary             color: Close to 138A.         -   Seed.—Quantity per flower: About 50 to 60. Length: Less than             1 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm. Color, immature: Close to             145C. Color, mature: Close to 177A. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 30° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been     observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to     Kalanchoes. 

1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Megan’ as illustrated and described. 